Fighting Anthropogenic Forest Fires: Implications from Forest Fires in the Mediterranean Region

Year 2023, Volume: 16 Issue: Türkiye Cumhuriyetinin 100. Yılı Özel Sayısı | Special Issue for the 100th Anniversary of the Republic of Türkiye, 438 - 454, 29.10.2023

Vildan Oral , Melikşah Turan

https://doi.org/10.35674/kent.1343772

Abstract

This study aims to reveal the variables affecting forest fire response management, identify the difficulties encountered, and develop solutions. In the study, semi-structured interview technique, which is a qualitative research method, was used. The data obtained within the scope of the study were analysed by thematic analysis method. A purposeful sampling method was used within the scope of the study, and in-depth interviews were conducted with eleven firefighters who responded to the Mediterranean region fires in 2021. In the analyses made within the study's scope, four themes were revealed: coordination, source and spread factors, response reactions, and institutional roles. As a result of the study, it was seen that the participants often associated their past forest fire response experiences with the concepts of helplessness and inexperience due to a lack of training, equipment, and personnel. As a result of the analysis showed that the most common cause of forest fires in the region was the human factor, and the most serious problem encountered in the intervention was the lack of coordination. Within the scope of the study, it is recommended that professionals make the coordination the awareness of the local people, which constitutes the majority of the volunteer capacity, about forest fire precautions, and the voluntary firefighting system should be activated and included in the response system, especially in areas with high fire risk.

Keywords

Firefighter, Forest Fire, Mediterranean Region, Response, Qualitative

Thanks

We thank the firefighters who agreed to participate in the study and shared their experiences.

Antropojenik Tehlike Olan Orman Yangınlarıyla Mücadele: Akdeniz Bölgesi Orman Yangınlarından Çıkarımlar

Abstract

Bu çalışmanın amacı, orman yangınlarına müdahale yönetimini etkileyen değişkenleri ortaya koyarak karşılaşılan güçlükleri tespit etmek ve çözüm önerileri geliştirmektir. Çalışmada, nitel bir araştırma yöntemi olan yarı yapılandırılmış görüşme tekniği kullanılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında elde edilen veriler tematik analiz yöntemi ile analiz edilmiştir. Çalışma kapsamında amaçlı örnekleme yöntemi kullanılmış ve 2021 yılında Akdeniz bölgesi yangınlarına müdahale eden on bir itfaiyeci ile derinlemesine görüşmeler yapılmıştır. Çalışma kapsamında yapılan analizlerde koordinasyon, kaynak ve yayılım etmenleri, müdahale tepkileri ve kurumsal rollerden oluşan 4 tema ortaya konulmuştur. Çalışma sonucunda katılımcıların geçmiş orman yangını müdahale deneyimlerini sıklıkla eğitim, ekipman, araç ve personel yetersizliği kaynaklı çaresizlik ve tecrübesizlik kavramları ile ilişkilendirdikleri görülmüştür. Yapılan analizler sonucunda bölgede çıkan orman yangınlarının en yaygın sebebinin insan faktörü olduğu ve müdahalede karşılaşılan en ciddi sorunun koordinasyon eksikliği olduğu görülmüştür. Karşılaşılan sorunların çözümü için koordinasyonun profesyonellerce yapılması, gönüllü kapasitesinin büyük çoğunluğunu oluşturan yerel halkın orman yangını önlemleri ile ilgili bilinçlendirilmesi, özellikle yangın riski yüksek bölgelerde gönüllü itfaiyecilik sisteminin aktive edilmesi önerilmektedir.

Keywords

İtfaiyeci, Orman Yangını, Akdeniz Bölgesi, Müdahale, Nitel

References

• Alamsyah, A. (2022). Collaborative Practice during Forest Fires Disaster: A Narrative Policy Framework. Journal of Disaster and Emergency Research, 5(1), 3–16. 10.18502/JDER.9744.
• Alsaawi, A. (2014). A critical review of qualitative interviews. European Journal of Business and Social Sciences, 3(4). 149–156.
• Aregai, T., & Neary, D. (2015). Water quality impacts of forest fires. Pollution Effects and Control. 3 (2). http://dx.doi.org/10.4172/2375-4397.1000140.
• Arslantürk, N., & Ketenoğlu, O. (2008). Akdeniz Bölgesinin Tanımı ve Florasının Kökeni. Türk Bilimsel Derlemeler Dergisi, (1), 79-86.
• Bahuguna, V. K., & Upadhay, A. (2002). Forest fires in India: policy initiatives for community participation. International Forestry Review, 4(2), 122-127. https://doi.org/10.1505/IFOR.4.2.122.17446.
• Boyatzis, R. E. (1998). Transforming qualitative information: thematic analysis and code development. Sage Publications.
• Braun, V., & Clarke, V. (2006). Using thematic analysis in psychology. Qualitative research in psychology, 3(2), 77–101. DOI: 10.1191/1478088706qp063oa.
• Canton-Thompson, J., Gebert, K. M., Thompson, B., Jones, G., Calkin, D., & Donovan, G. (2008). External human factors in incident management team decision-making and their effect on large fire suppression expenditures. Journal of Forestry, 106(8), 416–424. https://doi.org/10.1093/jof/106.8.416.
• Dauvergne, P. (1998). The political economy of Indonesia's 1997 forest fires. Australian Journal of International Affairs, 52(1), 13-17. https://doi.org/10.1080/10357719808445234.
• Elbaar, E. F., & Meilantina, M. (2020). The Role of Women in Mitigation of Forest and Land Fires Based on Local Wisdom. Systematic Reviews in Pharmacy, 11(6). Doi:10.31838/srp.2020.6.131.
• Food and Agriculture Organization. (2011). Community-Based Fire Management A review. FAO Forestry Paper 166. http://www.fao.org/3/i2495e/i2495e.pdf.
• Fitri, H., & Wibowo, I. (2012). Community-Based Fire Preparedness Practice in High Density Area. Global Journal of Community Psychology Practice, 3(4). 206-212.
• Flannigan, M. D., Amiro, B. D., Logan, K. A., Stocks, B. J., & Wotton, B. M. (2006). Forest fires and climate change in the 21st century. Mitigation and adaptation strategies for global change, 11(4), 847–859. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11027-005-9020-7.
• General Directorate of Forestry. (2022, September 20). Yangın istatistikleri. https://www.ogm.gov.tr/tr/e-kutuphane/resmi-istatistikler.
• General Directorate of Mapping. (2022, October 1). Antalya fiziki il haritası. https://www.harita.gov.tr/urun/antalya-fiziki-il-haritasi/456.
• Glenn, E., Yung, L., Wyborn, C., & Williams, D. R. (2022). Organizational influence on the co-production of fire science: overcoming challenges and realizing opportunities. International Journal of Wildland Fire, 31(4), 435-448. https://doi.org/10.1071/WF21079.
• González, J. R., & Pukkala, T. (2007). Characterization of forest fires in Catalonia (north-east Spain). European Journal of Forest Research, 126(3), 421-429. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10342-006-0164-0.
• Güngöroğlu, C. (2018). Forest fire studies on fire behavior: key topics and their importance. In Proceedings of the 14th International Combustion Symposium (INCOS2018), Karabük, Turkey. 25-27.
• Hoffmann, A. A. (2013). Community-Based Fire Management -CBFiM Best practice examples in the SADC region. https://tfcaportal.org/community-based-fire-management-%E2%80%93cbfim-best-practice-examples-sadc-region.
• International Disaster Database. (2022, September 20). Classification. https://www.emdat.be/classification.
• Krah, C. Y., & Njume, A. C.& Aminah (2020). Refocusing on Community-Based Fire Management (A Review). In IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 504(1), 012015. Doi:10.1088/1755-1315/504/1/012015.
• Mateus, P., & Fernandes, P. M. (2014). Forest fires in Portugal: dynamics, causes and policies. In Forest context and policies in Portugal, 97-115, Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-08455-8_4.
• Ministry of Interior. (2021). Türkiye'nin Nüfus Haritası. https://www.icisleri.gov.tr/turkiyenin-nufus-haritasi-10072021#:~:text=Akdeniz%20B%C3%B6lgesi'nin%20n%C3%BCfusu%2010.584,nin%20n%C3%BCfusu%20ise%207.696.132.
• Mukhopadhyay, D. (2007). Community-Based Wildfire Management in India. Proceedings of the IV International Wildland Fire Conference, Seville, Spain, pp. 13–17, http://www.fire.uni-freiburg.de/sevilla-2007/contributions/ doc/cd/SESIONES_TEMATICAS/ST2/Mukhopadhyay_INDIA.pdf.
• Narendran, K. (2001). Forest fires. Resonance, 6(11), 34-41. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02868242.
• Paudel, J. (2021). Beyond the blaze: the impact of forest fires on energy poverty. Energy Economics, p. 101, 105388. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eneco.2021.105388.
• Paveglio, T. B., Carroll, M. S., & Jakes, P. J. (2010). Alternatives to evacuation during wildland fire: Exploring adaptive capacity in one Idaho community. Environmental Hazards, 9(4), 379-394. https://doi.org/10.3763/ehaz.2010.0060.
• Polat, A. (2022). Nitel araştırmalarda yarı-yapılandırılmış görüşme soruları: Soru form ve türleri, nitelikler ve sıralama. Anadolu Üniversitesi Sosyal Bilimler Dergisi, 22(Özel Sayı 2), 161-182.
• Stocks, B. J., Mason, J. A., Todd, J. B., Bosch, E. M., Wotton, B. M., Amiro, B. D., ... & Skinner, W. R. (2002). Large forest fires in Canada, 1959–1997. Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres, 107(D1). https://doi.org/10.1029/2001JD000484.
• Tedim, F., Xanthopoulos, G., & Leone, V. (2015). Forest fires in Europe: Facts and challenges. In Wildfire hazards, risks, and disasters. 77–99. https://doi.org/10.1016/B978-0-12-410434-1.00005-1.
• Tekin, H. H. (2006). Nitel Araştırma Yönteminin Bir Veri Toplama Tekniği Olarak Derinlemesine Görüşme. İstanbul University Journal of Sociology, 3(13), 101–116.
• Tekindal, M. & Uğuz Arsu, Ş. (2020). Nitel araştırma yöntemi olarak fenomenolojik yaklaşımın kapsamı ve sürecine yönelik bir derleme. Ufkun Ötesi Bilim Dergisi, 20 (1), 153-182.
• Tian, X., Zhao, F., Shu, L., & Wang, M. (2013). Distribution characteristics and the influence factors of forest fires in China. Forest Ecology and Management, 310, 460–467. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2013.08.025.
• Trejo, D. A. R. (2008). Fire regimes, fire ecology, and fire management in Mexico. Journal of the Human Environment, 37(7), 548-556. https://doi.org/10.1579/0044-7447-37.7.548.
• Viegas, D. X., & Simeoni, A. (2011). Eruptive behavior of forest fires. Fire Technology, 47(2), 303-320. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10694-010-0193-6.